Boeing engineers’ memories of the Boeing engineers’ memories of the Apollo ProgramApollo Program

““You’d be there in the test rooms, You’d be there in the test rooms, staffed with technical support, you’d staffed with technical support, you’d feel a part of it. We weren’t in feel a part of it. We weren’t in Houston or Florida…but you’re Houston or Florida…but you’re plugged into everything that’s plugged into everything that’s happening. We were there on call if happening. We were there on call if NASA needed technical support. That NASA needed technical support. That part was fascinating.”part was fascinating.”

Jack ParkerJack Parker Supported the Apollo missions for Rockwell which built the Supported the Apollo missions for Rockwell which built the

Apollo Command and Service Module.Apollo Command and Service Module.

"The space program is an exciting and "The space program is an exciting and rewarding career for those who want rewarding career for those who want to be challenged in their jobs. If I to be challenged in their jobs. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't have didn't believe that, I wouldn't have worked in the space program for worked in the space program for nearly 50 years.” nearly 50 years.”

Harold F. BattagliaHarold F. Battaglia Retired Boeing and NASA engineer, technical advisor to the NASA Retired Boeing and NASA engineer, technical advisor to the NASA

Constellation Safety and Engineering Review Panel. Constellation Safety and Engineering Review Panel.

““When Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon When Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon for the first time, he carried that microfilm in for the first time, he carried that microfilm in his pocket with everyone’s name on it. “I his pocket with everyone’s name on it. “I have a copy of this picture at home and am have a copy of this picture at home and am very proud of it…I believe we should go very proud of it…I believe we should go back to the moon and that can be a back to the moon and that can be a stepping off point for wherever else we stepping off point for wherever else we want to go in space. Despite the want to go in space. Despite the challenges, I believe our engineers can do challenges, I believe our engineers can do it and are up to the task. It took real it and are up to the task. It took real teamwork to be successful in Apollo and teamwork to be successful in Apollo and that will be important when we go back.”that will be important when we go back.”

Larry TostoLarry TostoBoeing International Space Station systems engineerBoeing International Space Station systems engineer

““I felt wonderfully when the Saturn-II I felt wonderfully when the Saturn-II booster performed exactly as booster performed exactly as designed as part of launching a man designed as part of launching a man to the Moon. I watched it with a group to the Moon. I watched it with a group of workers from the North American-of workers from the North American-Rockwell space division. It was a real Rockwell space division. It was a real thrill to see it liftoff and rise toward thrill to see it liftoff and rise toward space,” he says. “An outstanding space,” he says. “An outstanding achievement.”achievement.”

Edward MokslaveskasEdward Mokslaveskas Lead engineer on a forerunner to the Mercury Program.Lead engineer on a forerunner to the Mercury Program.

““It is not the launch that excites me, but It is not the launch that excites me, but rather where are we going? It is building rather where are we going? It is building the capability to sustain people on the the capability to sustain people on the moon for an extended period of time and moon for an extended period of time and doing that elsewhere in this universe. I doing that elsewhere in this universe. I think putting people on the moon for an think putting people on the moon for an extended period of time to do some extended period of time to do some research and exploration will help us to research and exploration will help us to understand what it will take us to take understand what it will take us to take people to mars and back. The moon is a people to mars and back. The moon is a step on our way to Mars.”step on our way to Mars.”

Leonard NicholsonLeonard NicholsonBoeing Constellation Chief Engineer who joined NASA in April Boeing Constellation Chief Engineer who joined NASA in April

19631963

““The Apollo 11 crew came aboard the The Apollo 11 crew came aboard the crawler transporter while we were crawler transporter while we were delivering their vehicle to the launch delivering their vehicle to the launch pad,”pad,” Wallace says. Wallace says. “We were able to “We were able to shake the hand of each of them and shake the hand of each of them and also wish them a safe flight.”also wish them a safe flight.”

Freddie WallaceFreddie WallaceBoeing engineer who spent the Apollo years working on one of Boeing engineer who spent the Apollo years working on one of

the most enduring pieces of hardware in America’s human the most enduring pieces of hardware in America’s human space flight program: the crawler transporterspace flight program: the crawler transporter

““I think it’s great that NASA’s working to I think it’s great that NASA’s working to go to the moon again,”go to the moon again,” he says. he says. “The “The moon is a great service station out moon is a great service station out there. After you escape gravity on the there. After you escape gravity on the earth and burn up your fuel, it would earth and burn up your fuel, it would be nice to stop at a service station be nice to stop at a service station and refuel. We’re lucky to have a and refuel. We’re lucky to have a moon like that,” he adds. “We should moon like that,” he adds. “We should take advantage of it.”take advantage of it.”

Leo “Dusty” RhodesLeo “Dusty” Rhodes Design engineer who worked on latches during the Apollo Design engineer who worked on latches during the Apollo

ProgramProgram

““In Apollo, there was a lot of individual In Apollo, there was a lot of individual things done by individual people – all things done by individual people – all over this country, not just by us down over this country, not just by us down here. Millions of people had here. Millions of people had something to do with making that something to do with making that hardware. They did a good job, made hardware. They did a good job, made it safe. They were all happy to do it. it safe. They were all happy to do it. The American people do a good job The American people do a good job in what they want to do.”in what they want to do.”

John BowenJohn Bowen Boeing engineer who worked in launch control during ApolloBoeing engineer who worked in launch control during Apollo

""I am sure that I also turned blue when I am sure that I also turned blue when Armstrong seemed to take so long for the Armstrong seemed to take so long for the landing. I was concerned that the RCS landing. I was concerned that the RCS systems might have a problem and cause systems might have a problem and cause a mission problem. I was always proud a mission problem. I was always proud when the missions were successfully when the missions were successfully completed…We never lost a thruster on completed…We never lost a thruster on any of the Apollo flights and none of the any of the Apollo flights and none of the Apollo missions had a significant issue Apollo missions had a significant issue with the RCS.”with the RCS.”

Chet Vaughan Chet Vaughan Retired NASA and Boeing senior managerRetired NASA and Boeing senior manager

““If you have technical setbacks, If you have technical setbacks, you have to remember there are you have to remember there are always ways to work through always ways to work through them and to not give up. I think them and to not give up. I think we have enough ingenious people we have enough ingenious people around that we can come up with around that we can come up with solutions.”solutions.”

Stanley Barauskas Stanley Barauskas Propulsion engineer for Space Shuttle orbiterPropulsion engineer for Space Shuttle orbiter

““The landing inspired me to be a part of The landing inspired me to be a part of the space program…I earned a the space program…I earned a physics degree from Manhattan physics degree from Manhattan College. After that I was working for College. After that I was working for the Goddard Institute of Space Studies the Goddard Institute of Space Studies for Dr. Jim Hansen, the same person for Dr. Jim Hansen, the same person who has been in the press about who has been in the press about global warming.”global warming.”

Mike FraiettaMike Fraietta

Boeing Iridium engineer who was only 12 years old when the Apollo Boeing Iridium engineer who was only 12 years old when the Apollo 11 landing occurred11 landing occurred

““He was very serious at the time and He was very serious at the time and we did not get to talk too much. I we did not get to talk too much. I remember seeing him at the reunion remember seeing him at the reunion 30 years after the Apollo 11 mission 30 years after the Apollo 11 mission and shaking his hand again, but this and shaking his hand again, but this time he was smiling a lot more than time he was smiling a lot more than when I met him the first time.”when I met him the first time.”

John EricksonJohn Erickson Software engineer, remembers standing outside the door during Software engineer, remembers standing outside the door during

the last training session for Neil Armstrong.the last training session for Neil Armstrong.

““I got there just in time for Apollo,”I got there just in time for Apollo,” he he said. said. “There was a lot of excitement “There was a lot of excitement and questioning – could we really do and questioning – could we really do it? Is it going to be safe? Could we it? Is it going to be safe? Could we beat the Russians? For me, as a 21-beat the Russians? For me, as a 21-year-old working with flight crews, I year-old working with flight crews, I was a little bit in awe.”was a little bit in awe.”

Larry McWhorterLarry McWhorterLike many high school and college students in the 1960s, was Like many high school and college students in the 1960s, was mesmerized by the Mercury launches he was watching on TV.mesmerized by the Mercury launches he was watching on TV.

““With the space shuttle winding down, With the space shuttle winding down, and CEV not winding up for several and CEV not winding up for several years, I see a serious void in years, I see a serious void in America’s manned space presence, America’s manned space presence, which I consider a national weakness. which I consider a national weakness. The problem is funding, which is The problem is funding, which is driven by public interest and priorities. driven by public interest and priorities. But if we can keep CEV going -- But if we can keep CEV going -- bigger and better than Apollo -- we’ll bigger and better than Apollo -- we’ll be back in space in a big way.”be back in space in a big way.”

Charles H. LowryCharles H. Lowry Parachute expert from the Apollo days, now lending his Parachute expert from the Apollo days, now lending his

knowledge and experience to NASA’s current efforts to return knowledge and experience to NASA’s current efforts to return humans to the moon.humans to the moon.

““The basics of engineering are the The basics of engineering are the same but implementations and same but implementations and processes have changed processes have changed immensely. I believe today’s immensely. I believe today’s younger engineers are up to the younger engineers are up to the task.”task.”

Edward VolickEdward VolickEnjoyed a long and distinguished career supporting NASA during the Enjoyed a long and distinguished career supporting NASA during the

Apollo program. Apollo program.